Tuesday, June 06, 2006

U.S. DoJ: Reporters May be Prosecuted for Leaks

A top Justice department official refused to tell a Senate panel Tuesday if it is considering prosecuting any journalists for leaked national security information.

But Matthew Friedrich, chief of staff for the criminal division in the Justice Department, confirmed to the Senate Judiciary Committee that the DOJ believes reporters can be prosecuted for printing classified information.

Friedrich said the Justice Department would not support legislation that protects journalists from prosecution for printing classified information, despite the exception provided for information that directly impacts national security.

He said the legislation would shift the decision-making power over whether a subpoena is needed from the executive branch to the judicial branch.